Wynstane of Euesham whych are the best of the Englysh martyrs to the touche stone of Gods worde ye shall fynhe their martyrdomes and causes full vnlyke to theirs whom the Byshoppes murther now apace in Englande In all these Englysh martyrs reherced here afore ye shall fynde verye fewe coloures or yet tokens that Christ sayd hys martyrs shuld be knowne by vnlesse ye take pylgrymages poÌ„pes rellyckes women battels huÌ„tynges ydelnesse moÌ„keryes moneye treasure worldlye kyngedomes conteÌ„pt of marryage superstycyoÌ„s soch other vanytees for theÌ„ And than wyll I saye not lye in it that ye are moch better ouerseane thaÌ„ lerned in the scriptures of God as your olde blynde blâ—dderynge predecessours hath bene Ye wyll axe me here if I reckeÌ„ EnglaÌ„de thaÌ„ all barreÌ„ of ChristeÌ„ martyrs Naye marry do I not For I knowe it hath had good store seÌ„s the popes faythe came first into Englande to the Gospels obscuracyoÌ„ though their names be not knowne to all meÌ„ Great tyraÌ„nye was shewed by the heythnysh emprours kynges at the first preachynge of theÌ„ Gospell in the prymatyue churche of the Brytaynes by the cruell callynge on of the pagane prestes But nothynge lyke to that hath bene shewed seÌ„s in the Englysh churche by the spirytuall tyranÌ„t of Rome hys mytred termagauÌ„tes at the prouocacyoÌ„ of ther oyled swylbolles blynd Balaamytes For they most cruellye breÌ„t those innoceÌ„tes whych ded but only reade the testameÌ„t of God in their mother tunge do not yet repent them of that myschefe but contynewe therin If ye marke wele these ij examynacyons of Anne Askewe ye shall fynde in her and in her other â—ij companyons besydes other whoÌ„ the Byshoppes in our tyme and afore hath brent the expresse tokens that Christ sealeth hys martyrs with They apered as shepe amonge wolues They were throwne in stronge preson They were brought forth into counsels and synagoges Their answers were out of Gods sprete as her in apereth and not out of their owne They were reuyled mocked stocked racked execrated condempned and murthered as is sayd afore By a spirytualte also as he promysed they shuld be Math. 23. and 24 Yea those spirytuall tyrauntes besydes their mortall malyce vpon the innocent bodyes haue most blasphemouslye vttered in their spyghtfull sermons and writynges that their sowles are dampned as is to be seaâ—e in the bokes of wynchestre and Peryn But lete them be ware least they dampne not their owne wretched sowles For full sure we are by Christes stronge promes Luce 12. That their sowles they can not harme with all their popes blacke câ—rses Full swetelye rese they now in the peace of God where their slaunderouse and malycyon se iudgementes can not â—urte them at all â—api 3. Lete those Epycures pygges dampne them with as manye blasphemouse lyes as they can ymagyne for other armour they haue noâ— â—nd we shall on the other syde canâ—nyse them agayne with the myghtye wordes and promyses of Christ whych they shall neuer be â—able to resist The father of our lorde Iesus Christ graunt the lyght of hys worde so to sprede the worlde ouer that the darke mystes of Sathan maye clerelye be expelled to the specyall confort of hys redemed churche and glorye of hys eternall name Amen The lattre examinacion of the worthye seruaunt of God mastres Anne Askewe the yoÌ„ger doughter of Sir Wyllyam Askewe knyght of Lyncolne shyre latelye martyred in Smithfelde by the wycked Synagoge of Antichrist The censure or iudgemeÌ„t of Iohan Bale therupon after the sacred Scriptures and Chronycles CHrist wylled hys most dere Apostle and secretarye Gaynt IohaÌ„ the Euangelist to sygnyfye by writynge to the euer fear or preacher of the congregacyon of Pergamos that there onlye are hys faythfull meÌ„bers murthered where SathaÌ„ inhabyteth or holdeth resydence And for exaÌ„ple he bryngeth forth hys constaunt witnesse Antipas whych was there most cruellye slayne of that Synagoge of hys for confessynge the veryte Apoca. 2. That Behemorh sayth Iob that Leuyathan that Sathan regneth as a most myghtye kynge ouer all the spirytuall chyldren of pryde Iob 42. A murtherer sayth Christ to the spirytualâ—e of the Iewes and a blasphemouse lyar is that father of yours hath bene from the worldes begynnynge Ioan. 8. These maners hath he not yet left but contynueth them styll in hys wycked posteryte Iu the prymatyue churche as restyfyeth Bedas they persecuted the heares of Christes head whych were so pure as the whyte wâ—lle that is apte to receyue all colours Apoca 1. They slewe those true beleuers whych hys worde sprete had depured from all false worshyppynges and made fytt for all trybulacyons to be suffered for hys names sake In these lattre dayes they meddele with his fete whych are lyke vnto brasse burynge as it were in an whote furnace Apo. 1. For they that beleue now agreably to hys worde and not after ther corrupted and cursed customes are consumed in the fyre As here after wyll apere by thys godlye woman Anne Askewe whych with other more was brent at London in the yeare of our lorde a M.D.XLVI For the faythfull testymonye of Iesu agaynst Antichrist Whose lattre handelynge here foloweth in course lyke as I receyued it in coppye by serten duche merchauntes coÌ„mynge froÌ„ thens whych had bene at their burnynge and beholden the tyrannouse vyolence there shewed First out of the preson she wrote vnto a secrete frynde of hers after thys maâ—er folowynge Anne Askewe I do perceyue dere frynde in the lorde that thu art not yet persuaded throughlye in the truthe concernynge the lordes supper bycause Christ sayd vnto hys Apostles Take eate Thys is my bodye whych is geuen for yow In geuynge forth the breade as an outwarde sygne or token to be receyued at the mouche he mynded them in a perfyght beleue to receyue that bodye of hys whych shuld dye for the people or to thynke the deathe therof the onlye hâ—lthe and saluacyon of their sowles The breade and the wyne were left vs for a sacramentall communyon or a mutuall pertycypacyon of the inestymable benefyghtes of hys most precyouse deathe and bloud shedynge And that we shuld in the ende therof be thankefull togyther for that most necessarye grace of our redempcyon For in the closynge vp therof he sayd thus Thys do ye in remeÌ„braunce of me Yea so oft as ye shall eate it or drynke it Luce 22. and 1. Corinth 11. â—ls shuld we haue bene forgetfull of that we ought to haue in daylye remembraunce also bene altogyther vnthankefull for it Iohan Bale Agreable to thys womaÌ„nis doctryne here are the scriptures of both testameÌ„ice Wherin these wordes Edere Bibere to eate to drynke are oft tymes spirytuallye taken for Credere to beleue or receyue in faythe The poore sayth Dauid shall eate and he satisfyd All that seke to please the
instaunt laboure anâ— sute Anne Askewe Then my lorde chauncellour asked me of my opynyon in the sacrament My answere was thys I beleue that so oft as I in a Christen congregacyon do receyue the breade in remembraunce of Christes deathe with thankes geuynge accordynge to hys holye instytucyoÌ„ I receyne therwith the frutes also of hys most gloryouse passyon The Byshopp of wynchestre bad me make a dyrect answere I sayd I wolde not synge a newe songe to the lorde in a straunge lande Iohan Bale Dyrect ynough was thys answere after Christes syngle doctryne but not after the popes double and couetouse meanynge for hys â—yled queresters aduauntage And here was at hande hys generall aduocate or stewarde to loke vpon the matter that nothynge shuld perysh perteynynge to the mayntenaunce of hys superstycyouse vayne glorye if anye craâ—tye polycye myght helpe it What offended thys godlye Christen woman here eyther in opynyon or faythe ye cruell aâ—d vengeable tyraunies But that ye must as Dauid sayth temper your tunges with venemouse wordes to destroye that innocent Psal. 63. Coulde yow haue brought in agaynst her a matter of more daunger concernynge your lawes to depryue her of lyfe ye wolde haue done it soch is your gostlye charyte But be sure of it as hawtye as ye are now the harde plage therof wyll â—e yours whan the great vengeaunce shall fall for shedynge of innocentes bloude Matheâ— 23. Anne Askewe Then the Byshopp sayd I spake in parables I answered it was best for hym For if I shewe the open truthe quoth I ye wyll not accept it TheÌ„ he sayd I was a paratte I tolde hym agayne I was ready to suffre all thynges at hys haÌ„des Not onlye hys rebukes but all that shuld folowe besydes yea and that gladlye Then had I dyuerse rebukes of the counsell bycause I wolde not expresse my mynde in all thynges as they wolde haue me But they were not in the meane tyme vnanswered for all that whych now to rehearce were to moche For I was with them there aboue fyue houres Then the clerke of the counsell conueyed me from thens to my ladye Garnyshe Iohan Bale Most coÌ„monlye Christ vsed to speake in darke symylytudes and parables whaÌ„ he perceyued hys audyence rather geuon to the hearynge of pharysaycall constytucyons and customes than to hys heauenlye veryte Math. 13. Mar. 4. Luce 7. Whych rule thys woman beynge hys true dyscyple forgote not here in coÌ„menynge with thys proude Byshopp whoÌ„ she knewe to be alwayes a most obstynate withstander of that wholsom veryte of hys And as concernynge mockes and scornefull reâ—ylynges they haue bene euer in that generacyon of scorners more plenteouse than good counsels to the ryghtwyse And therfor as a name after their condycyons it is vnto them appropryate of the holye Ghost in manye places of the scriptures In the lattre dayes sayth Iudas the apostle shall come mockers walkynge in vngodlynesse all after their owne lustes These are they whych separate themselues froÌ„ the common sort by a name of spirytualtie beynge in conuersacyon beastlye and hauynge no sprete that is godlye But derelye beloued sayth he grounde your selues surelye vpon our most holye faythe c. Anne Askewe The next daye I was brought agayne before the counsell Then wolde they nedes knowe of me what I sayd to the sacrament I answered that I alredye had sayd that I coulde saye Then after diuerse wordes â–ª they bad me go by Then came my lorde Lyle my lorde of Essexe and the Byshopp of wynchestre requyrynge me ernestlye that I shuld confesse the sacrament to be fleshe bloude and bone Then sayd I to my lorde Paraâ—d my lorde Lyle that it was great shame for them to counsell contrarye to their knowlege Wherunto in fewe wordes they ded saye that they wolde gladlye all thynges were wele Iohan Bale Alwayes haue the worldelye gouernours shewed more gentylnesse and fauer to the worde of God than the consecrate prestes and prelates As we haue for example in the olde lawe â–ª that Ezechias the kynge of Iuda wolde in no case at their callynge on put Micheas the true prophete vnto deathe whan he had prophecyed the destructyon of Samaria for their ydolatrye and for the tyrannye of their prynces and false prophetes Miche 1. and 3. Neyther wolde the prynces at the prestes headye exclamacyons murther Hieremye for the lordes veryte preachynge but mercyfullye delyuered hym out of their malycyouse handes Hieremye 26. Pylate in lyke case concernynge the newe Iawe pleaâ—ed with the Iewes spirytualte to haue saued Christ froÌ„ the deathe Math. 27. Ioan. 18. So ded the captayne Claudius Lisias delyuer Paule from their mortall malyce after that the hygh prest Ananias had commaunded hym to be smytten and hys retynewe coÌ„spyred hys deathe Acto 23. At the prestes onlye prouocacyon was it that the heythnysh emprours so greuouslye vexed and tormented the Christen beleuers in the prymatyue churche as testyfyeth Egesyppus Clemens Alexandrinus Eusebius aâ—d other olde hystoryanes Anne Askew Then the Byshopp sayd he wolde speake withme famylyarlye I sayd so ded Iudas whan he vnfryndelye betrayed Christ Then desyered the Byshopp to speake with me alone But that I refused He asked me whye I sayd that in the mouthe of two or thre wytnesses euerye matter shuld stande after Christes Paules doctryne Math. 18. and 2. Cor. 13. Iohan Bale Ded she not thynke yow hytt the nayle on the head â–ª in thus tauntynge thys Byshopp yeas For as great offence doth he to Christ that geueth one of hys beleuynge members vnto deathe as ded he that betrayed first hys owne bodye That ye haue done vnto those lyttle ones shall he saye at the lattre daye whych haue beleued in me ye haue done vnto myne owne persone Math. 25. Who so toucheth them sayth Zacharye shall touche the apple of the lordes owne eye Zacha. â— But thys beleueth not that peruerse generacyon Anne Askewe Then my lorde chauncellour begaÌ„ne to examyne me agayne of the sacrament Then I axed hym how longe he wolde halte on both sydes Then wolde he nedes knowe where I founde that I sayd in the scripture 3. Reg. 18. TheÌ„ he weÌ„t hys waye Iohan Bale Of Helias the prophete were these wordes spoken to the people of Israel soch tyme as they halted betwyne ij opynyoÌ„s or walked vnryghtlye betwyne the true lyuynge God the false God Baal as we do now in EnglaÌ„de betwyne Christes Gospell and the popes olde rotten customes We slenderlye consydre with S. Paule that Christ wyll haue no felyshypp or concorde with Belial lyght with darkenesse ryghtwysnesse with vnryghtwysnesse the temple of God with ymages or the true beleuers with the infydels 2. Corinth 6. For all our newo Gospell yet wyll we styll beare the strauÌ„gersyoke with the vnbeleuers and so be come neyther whote nor colde
21 The lawe is turned to wormewood Amos 6. And there caÌ„no ryght iudgement go forth Esaie 59. Iohan Bale Marke here how gracyouslye the lorde kepeth promyse with thys poor seruaâ—nt of hys He that beleueth on me sayth Christ out of hys bellye shall â—owe ryuers of lyuynge water Ioan. 7. Neyther lasheth thys woman out in her extreme troubles language of dispayre nor yet blasphemouse wordes agaynst God with the vnbeleuynge but vttereth the scriptures in wonderfull habundaunce to hys lawde and prayse She rebuketh here the most pestylent vyce of ydolatrye Not by olde narracyons and fables but by the most pare worde of God as ded Daniel Steuen And in the ende she sheweth the stronge stomacke of a most Christen martyr in that she is neyther desyerouse of the deathe neyther yet standeth in feare of the vyoleÌ„ce or extremyte therof What a constancye was thys of a womaÌ„ frayle teÌ„dre yonge and most delycyouslye brought vp But thâ—â— Christes sprete was myghtye in her who bad her be of good chere For though the tyrauntes of thys worlde haue power to slee the bodye yet haue they nopower ouer the sowle Mathei 20. Neyther haue they power in the ende to demynysh one heare of the heade Luce 21. She faynteth not in the myddes of the battayle 1. Cor. 9. But perseuereth stronge and stedefast to the verye ende Math. 10. Not doubtynge but to haue for her faythfull perseuerauÌ„ce the crowne of eternall lyfe Apoc. 2. So merye am I sayth she good creature in the myddes of Newgate as one that is bowne towardes heauen A voyce was thys of a most worthye and valcaunt witnesse in the paynefull kyngedome of pacyence Apoca. 1. She faythfullye reckened of her lorde God that he is not as men are fyckle Numeri 23. But most sure of worde and promyse Psalme 144. And that he wolde most faythfullye kepe couenaunt with her whan tyme shuld come Apoca. 2. She had it most grounded lye planted in her hart that though heauen and earthe ded passe yet coulde not hys wordes and promes passe by vnfulfylled Luc. 21. Ashamed maye these carnall Helchesytesbe whych haue not onlye denyed the veryte of their lorde God but also most shamefullye blasphemed dishonoured both it and themselues for the pleasure of a yeare or ij to dwell styll in thys fleshe They coÌ„sydre not that he with whome they mocke hath power to sende them to helle for their blasphemye Luce 12. They shall nor fynde it a matter lyght for their inconstancye to be â—ometed out of the mouthe of God as vnsauerye morsels Apoca. 3. Neyther shall they proue it a Christmas game to be denyed of Christ before hys heauenlye father and hys angels for denyenge here hys veryte Math. 10. Anne Askewe Oh forgeue vs all our synnes receyue vs gracyouslye As for the workes of our handes we wyll nomore call vpon theÌ„ For it is thu lorde that arte our God Thu shewest euer mercye vnto the fatherlesse Oh if they wolde do thys sayth the lorde I shuld heale theyr sores yea withall my harte wolde I loue them O Ephraim what haue I to do with ydolles anye more Who so is wyse shall vnderstaÌ„de thys And he that is ryghlye enstructed wyll regarde it For the wayes of the lorde are ryghteouse Soch as are godlye wyll walke in them And as for the wycked they wyll stomble at them Osee 14. Iohan Bale All these wordes alleged she out of the last chaptre of Useas the prophete where as he prophecyed the destruccyon of Samaria for the onlye vyce of ydolatrye In the worde of the lorde she declareth her selfe therin to detest and abhorre that vyce aboue all and to repent froÌ„ the hart that she hath at anye tyme worshypped the workes of mennys handes eyther stone wode breade wyne or anye soch lyke for the eternall lyuynge God Consequentlye she confessyth hym to be her onlye God and that she had at that tyme trust in non other els neyther for the remyssyon of her synnes nor yet sowles coÌ„fort at her nede And lyke soch a wone as is vnfaynedlye coÌ„uerted vnto the lorde she axeth of the spirytuall Ephraimytes in hys worde what she hath anye more to do with ydolles or whye they shuld so tyrannouslye enforce her to the worshypynge of them consyderynge that he so ernestlye abhorreth them Fynallye ij sortes of people she reckeneth to be in the worlde and sheweth the dyuerse maner of them The one in the sprete of Christ obeyeth the worde the other in the sprete of errour coÌ„tempneth it And lyke as S Paule doth saye To the one part is it the sauour of lyfe vnto lyfe and to the other the sauour of deathe vnto deathe 2. Corinth 2. Anne Askewe Salomon sayth S. Steuen buylded an howse for the God of Iacob Howbeyt the hyest of all dwelleth not in teÌ„ples made with haÌ„des As sayth the prophete Esa. 66. heaueÌ„ is my seate the earthe is my fote stole What howse wyll ye buylde for me sayth the lorde or what place is it that I shall rest in hath not my hande made all these thynges Acto 7. Woman beleue me sayth Christ to the Samarytane the tyme is at hande that ye shall neyther in thys mountayne nor yet at Hierusalem worshypp the father Ye worshypp ye wote not what but we knowe what we worshypp For saluacyon commeth of the Iewes But the houre coÌ„meth and now is wherin the true worshyppers shall worshypp the father in sprete veryte Ioan. 4. Laboure not sayth Christ for the meate that perysheth but for that endureth into the lyfe euerlastynge whych the soÌ„ne of maÌ„ shall geue yow For hymgod the father hath sealed Ioan. 6. Iohan Bale Here bringe she iii. stronge restymdnyes of the newe testament to confirme her owne Christen beleue therwith and also both to confute and condempne the most execrabyle heresye and false fylthye beleue of the papystes The first of them proueth that the eternall God of heaueÌ„ wyll neyther be wrapped vp in a clowâ—e nor yet shutte vp in a boxe The seconde declareth that in no place of the earthe is he to be sought neyther yet to be worshypped â–ª but within vs in sprete and veryte The thirde of them concludeth that Christ is a feadynge for the sowle and not for the bodye More ouer he is soch a meate as neyther corrupteth mouldeth nor perysheth neyther yet consumeth or wasteth awaye in the bellye Lete not the Romysh popes remnaunt in EnglaÌ„de thynke but in condempnynge the faythe of thys godlye womaâ— they also condempne the veryte of the lorde vnlesse they can discharge these iij. textes of the scripture with other iij. more effectuall As I thynke they shall not nisi ad Calendas Grecas If they allege for their part the saynge of Christ Math. 24. Lo here is Christ or there is Christ. They are confounded
by that whych foloweth Wherin he ernestlye chargeth hys faythfâ—ll folowers not to beleue it callynge the teachers of soch doctryne false anoynted deceyuable prophetes and sorcerouse workemen Marci 13. Anne Askewe The summe of the condempnacyon of me Anne Askewe at yelde hawle They sayd to me there that I was an heretyke and condempned by the lawe if I wolde staÌ„de in my opynyon I answered that I was no heretyke neyther yet deserued I anye deathe by the lawe of God But as concernynge the faythe whych I vttered and wrote to the couÌ„sell I wolde not I sayd denye it bycause I knew it true TheÌ„ wolde they nedes knowe if I wolde denye the sacrament to be Christes bodye and bloude I sayd yea For the same sonne of God that was borne of the vyrgyne Marie â–ª is now gloriouse in heauen and wyll come agayne from thens at the lattre daye lyke as he went vp Acto 1. And as for that ye call your God is but a pece of breadeâ— For a more profe therof marke it whan ye lyst lete it lye in the boxe but iij. monthes and it wyll be moulde and so turne to nothyge that is good Wherupon I am persuaded that it can not be God Iohan Bale Christ Iesus the eternall sonne of God was condempned of thys generacyon for a sedicyouse heretyke a breaker of their sabbath a subuerter of their people a defyler of their lawes and a destroyer of their temple or holye churche Ioan. 7. Luce 23. Mathei 26. Marci 14. and suffered deathe for it at ther procurement by the lawe than vsed Is it than anye maruele if hys inferiour subiect here and faythfull membre do the same at the cruell callynge on and vyolent vengeaunce of their posteryte No no the seruaunt must folowe her mastre the fote her heade and maye be founde in that poynte no frear thaÌ„ he Ioan. 13. Saynt Augustyne dyffynyngâ— a sacrament calleth it in one place a sygne of an holye thynge In an other place a vysyble shappe of an inuysyble grace Whose offyce is to instructe anymate and strengthen our faythe towardes God and not to take it to it self and so depryue hym therof Christes bodye and bloude are neyther sygnes nor shaddowes but the verye effectuall thynges indede sygnyfyed by those fygures of breade and wyne But how that drye and corruptyble cake of theirs shuld become a God manye men wondre now a dayes in the lyght of the Gospell lyke as they haue done afore tyme also And specyallye whye the wyne shuld not be accepted and set vp for a God also so wele as the breade consyderynge that Christ made so moche of the one as of the other Anne Askewe After that they wylled me to haue a prest And than I smyled Then they asked me if it were not good I sayd I wolde confesse my fawtes to God for I was sure that he wolde heare me with fauer And so we were condempned without a quest Iohan Bale Prestes of godlye knowlege she ded not refuse For she knewe that they are the massengers of the lorde that hys holye wordes are to be sought at ther mouthes Mala .2 Of them she instaunt lye desyred to be instructed and it was denyed her as is written afore What shuld she than els do but returne vnto her lorde God in whome she knewe to be habundaunce of mercye for all them whych do from the hart repent Deutro .30 As for the other sort of prestes she ded not amys to laugh both them and their maynteners to scorne For so doth God also Psalme 2. And curseth both their absolueyons blessynges Mala .2 A thefe or a murtherer shuld not haue bene condempned without a quest by the lawes of Englande But the faythfull members of Iesus Christ for the spyght and hate that thys worlde hath to hys veryte must haue an other kynde of tyrannye added therunto besydes the vnryghtouse bestowynge of that lawe Wo be vnto yow sayth the eternall God of heauen by hys prophete or dampnacyon be ouer your heades that make wycked lawes and deuyse cruell thynges for the poore oppressed innocentes Esaie 10. Wo vnto hym that buyldeth Babylon with bloude and maynteyneth that wycked cytie styll in vnryghtwysnesse Abacuch 2. Nahum 3. Ezech. 24. Anne Askewe My beleue whych I wrote to the counsell was thys That the sacramentall breade was left vs to be receyned with thaÌ„kes geuynge in remembrauÌ„ce of Christes deathe the onlye remedye of our sowles recouer And that therby we also receyue the whole henefyghtes and frutes of hys most gloryouse passion Iohan Bale We reade not in the Gospell that the materyall breade at Christes holye supper â–ª was anye otherwyse taken of the Apostles thaÌ„ thus Neyther yet that Christ our mastre sauer requyred anye other takynge of them If so manye straunge doubtes had bene therin and so hygh dyffycultees as be moued and are in controuersye amonge men now a dayes both papystes and other they coulde no more haue bene left vndyscussed of hym than other hygh matters were The dyscyples axed here neyther how nor what as doubtlesse they wolde haue done if he had mynded them to haue taken the breade for hym They thought it ynough to take it in hys remembraunce lyke as he than playnelye taught them Luce 22. The eatynge of hys fleshe and drynkynge of hys bloude therin to the releuynge of their sowles thirst and hunger they knewe to perteyne vnto faythe accordynge to hys instruccyons in the vj. of Iohan. What haue thys godlye woman than offended whych neyther haue denyed hys incarnacyon nor deathe in thys her confessyon of faythe but most firmelye and groundedlye trusted to receyue the frutes of them both Anne Askewe Then wolde they nedes knowe whether the breade in the boxe were God or no I sayd God is a sprete and wyll be worshypped in sprete and truthe Ioan. 4. Then they demauÌ„ded Wyll yov planelye denye Christ to be in the sacrament I answered that I beleued faythfullye the eternall soÌ„ne of God not to dwell there In witnes wherof I recyted agayne the hystorye of Bel the ix chaptre of Daniel the vij and xvij of the Actes and the xxiiij of Mathew concludynge thus I neyther wyshe deathe nor yet feare hys myght God haue the prayse therof with thankes Iohan Bale Amonge the olde ydolaters some toke the suÌ„ne some the mone some the fyre some the water with soch other lyke for their Goddes as witnesseth Diodorus Siculus Herodotus Plynius Lacrantius dyuerse autours more Now come our dottynge papystes here wadynge yet more deper in ydolatrye and they must haue breade for their God yea a waffer cake whych is scarse worthye to be called breade In what sorowfull case are ChristeÌ„ people now a dayes that they maye worshypp their lorde and redemer Ihesus Christ in no shappe that hys heauenlye father hath
hys father or mother hys sonne or doughter hys prynce or gouernour aboue me he is not mete for me Math. 10. I feare me thys wyll be iudged hygh treason But no matter So soÌ„ge as it is Christes worde he shall be also vâ—dre the same iudgement of treason Lete no man care to be condeÌ„pned with hym for he in the ende shall be hable to rectyfye all wronges Marke here an example most woÌ„derfull and se how madlye in their ragynge furyes men forget themselues and lose their ryght wittes now a dayes A kynges hygh counseller a Iudge ouer lyfe and deathe yea a lorde Chauncellour of a most noble realme is now become a most vyle slaue for Antichrist and a most cruell tormentoure Without all dyscressyon honestye or manhode he casteth of hys gowne and taketh here vpoÌ„ hym the most vyle offyce of an haÌ„gemaÌ„ and pulleth at the racke most vyllanouslye O Wrisleye and Riche ij false christianes blasphemouse apostaraâ—s froÌ„ God What chaplayne of the pope hath inchauÌ„ted yow or what deuyll of helle bewytched yow â–ª to execute vpoÌ„ a poore coÌ„deÌ„pned womaÌ„ so prodygyouse a kynde of tyraÌ„nye Euen the verye MaÌ„mon of inyquyte that insacyable hunger of auarice whych coÌ„pelled Iudas to betray vnto deathe hys most louynge master IoaÌ„ 12. The wynnynges were not small that ye reckened vpon whaÌ„ ye toke on ye that cruell enterpryse wolde haue had so many great men and women accused But what els haue ye wonne in the ende than perpetuall shame and confusyon God hath suffered yow so to dyscouer your owne myscheues that ye shall nomore be forgotten of the worlde than are now Adonisedech Saul Hieroboam Manasses Olophernes Haman Tryphon Herode Nero Traianus and soche other horryble tyrauntes And as concernynge the innoceÌ„t womaÌ„ whoÌ„ yow so cruellye tormeÌ„ted Where coulde be seane a more clere and open experyment of Christes dere membre than in her myghtye sufferynges lyke a lambe she laye styll without noyse of cryenge and suffered your vttermost vyolence tyll the synnowes of her armes were broken and the strynges of her eys peryshed in her heade Ryght farre doth it passe the strength of a yonge tendre weake and sycke woman as she was at that tyme to your more confusyon to abyde so vyolent handelynge yea or yet of the strongest man that lyueth Thynke not therfor but that Christ hath suffered in her and so myghtelye shewed hys power that in her weakenesse he hath laughed your madde enterpryses to scorne Psalm 2. Where was the feare of God ye tyrauntes Where was your christen professyon ye helle houndes Where was your othe and promes to do true iustyce ye abhomynable periures whan ye went aboute these cursed feates More fytt are ye for swyne kepynge than to be of a prynces counsell or yet to gouerne a Christen commen welthe If Christ haue sayd vnto them whych do but offende hys lytle ones that beleue in hym that it were better they had a mylstone tyed aboute thyir neckes and were so throwne into the bottom of the see Luce 17. What wyll he saye to them that so vyllaynouslye pull at the racke in ther myscheuouse malyce These are but warnynges take hede if ye lyst for a full sorowfull plage wyll folowe here after Anne Askewe Then the lyefetenaunt caused me to be loused from the racke Incontynentlye I swounded and then they recouered me agayne After that I sate ij longe houres reasonynge with my lorde Chauncellour vpon the bare floore where as he with manye flatterynge wordes persuaded me to leaue my opynyon But my lorde God I thanke hys euerlastynge goodnesse gaue me grace to perseuer and wyll do I hope to the verye ende Iohan Bale Euermore haue the olde modye tyrauntes vsed thys practyse of deuylyshnesse As they haue perceyued themselues not to preuayle by extreme handelynges they haue sought to proue masteryes by the contrarye With gaye glosynge wordes and fayre flatterynge promyses they haue craftelye â—nÌ„passed the seruauntes of God to cause them consent to their wyckednesse And in thys temptynge occupacyon are Wrisleye Riche verye câ—nnynge Notwithstandynge they shall neuer fynde the chosen of God all one with the forsaken reprobates The electe vessels holde the eternall God for their most specyall treasure and haue hym in soch inteire loue that they had moch Iener to lose themselues than hym The wicked desperates haue the voluptuouse pleasures of thys vayne worlde so dere that they had leuer to forsake God and all hys workes than to be sequestred from them Thys godlye yonge woman referreth prayse vnto her lorde God that he hath not left her in thys paynefull conflycte for hys verytees sake but perseuered stronge with her beynge in hope that he wolde so styll contynewe with her to the verye ende as without fayle he ded Manye men sore wondre now a dayes that â—risleye whych was in my lorde Cromwels tyme so ernest a doer agaynst the pope is now becomen agayne for hys pedlarye wares so myghtye a captayne But they remembre not the common adage that honour changeth maners and luâ—re iudgementes These great ynne kepers they saye had leuer to haue one good horse man to hoste than vâ— men on fote specyallye if they weare veluet whodes or fyne rochettes What els foloweth Christ but beggerye and sorowes whych are verye harefull to the worlde Where fatnesse is cawte of euerye mannys laboure there is yet sumwhat to be loked for If hys christeÌ„ zele be soch that he wyll haue no she heretykes vnponnyshed lete hym do first of all as we reade of dyuerse ryghtfull gouerners amonge the heythen Lete hym serche hys owne howse wele Paranenture â–ª he maye fynde aboute my ladye hys wyfe a rellyck of no lyttle vertu a practyse of Pythagoras or an olde midwyues blessynge whych she carryeth closelye on her for preseruacyon of her honoure Her opynyoÌ„ is folke saye that so loÌ„ge as she hath that vpoÌ„ her her worldlye worshyp can neuer decaye I praye God thys prouysyon in short space deceyueth her not as it hath done pope Siluester the seconde and as it ded of late years Thomas Swolsye our late Cardynall Thys heresye goeth neyther to the racke nor the fyre to Newgate nor yet Smythfelde as contynuallye doth the pore Gospell Anne Askewe Then was I brought to an howse and layed in a bed with as werye and payneful bones as euer had pacyeÌ„t Iob I thaÌ„ke my lorde God therof Then my lorde Chauncellour sent me worde if I wolde leaue my opynyon I shuld want nothynge If I wolde not I shuld fourth to Newgate and so be burned I sent hym agayne worde that I wolde rather dye thaÌ„ to breake my faythe Thus the lorde open the eyes of their blynde hartes that the truthe maye take place Fare wele dere frynde and praye praye praye Iohan Bale Beholde in
that in doynge their false feates they sytt in Gods stede Thys poynt folowed the bludderynge Byshopp of London here whych for their olde fantasyed superstycyon laboured in thys woman to dysplace the syncere veryte of the lorde But so surelye was she buylded vpon the harde rocke that neyther for enmyte nor fryndeshypp wâ—lde she ones remoue her foâ—e Mathei 7. Neyther anguyshe trouble torment nor fyre coulde separate her from that loue of her lorde God Roma 8. Though she were for hys sake rebuked and vexed and also appoynted as a shepe to be slayne Psal. 43. Yet ded she strongelye through hym ouercome and haue I doubt it not obtayned the crowne of lyfe Apoca. 2. Anne Askewe Then the Byshopp beynge in great dyspleasure with me bycause I made doubtes in my writynge commaunded me to pryson Where I was a whyle But afterwardes by the meanes of fryndes I came out agayne Here is the truthe of that matter And as concernynge the thynge that ye couere most to knowe Resort to the vj. of Iohan be ruled alwayes therby Thus fare ye wele Quoth Anne Askewe Iohan Bale In all the scriptures we reade not that eyther Christ or yet hys Apostles commaunded anye man or woman to pryson for their faythe as thys tyraunt Byshopp ded here But in dede we fynde that Christes holye Apostles were ofttymes cruellye commaunded to pryson of the same spyghtfullye spirytuall generacyon Acto 4. 5. 12. 16. Christ wylled hys true beleuers to loke for non other at their spirytuall handes than enprysonmentes and deathe Mathei 10. Ioan. 16. And therfor sayd Peter vnto hym I am redye to go with the lorde both into pryson and to deathe Luce 22. Paule greatlye complayneth of hys enprysonmentes and scourgynges by them 2. Corinth 11. Dyuerse in the congregacyon of Smyrna were enprysoned by that fearce synagoge of Sathan Apoca. 2. Esaye prophecyenge the condycyons of the spirytuall Antichrist sayth amonge other that he shulde holde men captyue in preson Esaie 14. Ezechiel reporteth that he shuld churlyshlye checke and in cruelte rule Ezechie 34. Zacharye sheweth that he shuld eate vp the fleshe of the fattest Zacharie 11. Daniel declareth that he shuld persecute with swerde and fyre Daniel 11. And saynt Iohan verefyeth that he shuld be all dronke with the bloude of the witnesses of Iesu Apoca. 17. And therfor in these feates hys Byshoppes do but their kyndes Thus endeth the lattre examynacyon The confessyon of her faythe whych Anne Askewe made in Newgate afore she suffered I Anne Askewe of good me morye although my mercyfull father hath geuen me the breade of aduersyte the water of trouble yet not so moch as my synnes hath deserued confesse my selfe here a synner before the trone of hys heauenlye mageste desyerynge hys eternall mercye And for so moch as I am by the lawe vnryghtouslye condeÌ„pned for an euyll doer coÌ„cernynge opynyoÌ„s I take the same most mercyfull God of myn whych hath made hoth heauen and earthe to recorde that I holde no opynyons contrarye to hys most holye worde Iohan Bale What man of sober dyscressyon can iudge thys woman yll indyfferentlye but markynge thys her last confessyon Nor a fewe of most euydent argumentes are therin to proue her the true seruaunt of God Her wyttes were not ones dystracted for all her most tyraÌ„nouse handelynges She was styll of a perfyght memorye accountynge her emprysonmentes reâ—ylynges rackynges and other tormentes but the breade of aduersyte and the water of trouble as ded Dauid afore her Psalm 79. As the louynge chylde of God she receyued them without grudge and thought them deserued on her partye She toke them for hys hande of mercye and gaue most hygh thankes for them She mekelye confessed her selfe in hys syght a synner but not an haynouse heretyke as she was falselye iudged of the world In that matter she toke hym most stronglye to witnesse that though in faythe she were not agreable to the worldes wylde opynyon yet was she not therin contrarye to hys heauenlye truthe She had afore that proued their spretes conferrynge both their iudgementes 1. Ioan. 4. and perceyued them farre vnlyke Esaie 55. Anne Askewe And I trust in my mercyfull lorde whych is the geuer of all grace that he wyll gracyouslye assyst me agaynst all euyll opynyons whych are contrarye to hys blessyd veryte For I take hym to witnesse that I haue do and wyll do vnto my lyues ende vtterlye abhorre them to the vttermost of my power But thys is the heresye whych they report me to holde that after the prest hath spoken the wordes of consecracyon there remayneth breade styll Iohan Bale Consydre without frowarde parcyall or wylfull affeccyon the poyntes herin contayned and than iudge of what harte or conscyence they haue rysen The hope of thys woman was onlye in God Hym she confessed to be of all grace the geuer Alone in hys mercye she trusted She instauntlye desyred hym to defende her from all errours She abhorred all heresyes She detested mennys superstycyouse inuencyons And most firmelye cleaâ—ed to hys eternall worde If these with those that went afore be not frutes of true christyanyte or of a perfyght membre of Gods eleccyon what frutes wyll we demauÌ„de S. Paule fayth No man can confesse that Iesus is the lorde as she hath done here but in the holye Ghost 1. Corinth 12. Dauid also specifyeth that the lordeneuer forsaketh them whych call vpon hys name put their trust in hym Psal. 9. And as touchynge the prestes consecracyoÌ„ whych is soch a charme of inchauntemeÌ„t as maye noâ— be dâ—ne but by an oyled offycer of the popes generacyon she ded godlye to reiect it in that clowâ—ynge kynde For in all the Byble is it not that anye maÌ„ can make of a drye waffer cake a newe sauer a newe redemer a newe Christ or a newe God No though he shuld vtter all the wordes and scriptures therin Anne Askewe But they both saye and also reache it for a necessarye artycle of faythe that after those wordes be ones spoken there remayneth no breade but euen the selfe same bodye that hynge vpon the crosse on good frydaye both fleshe bloude and bone To thys beleue of theirs saye I naye For then were our commen Crede false whych sayth that he sytteth on the ryght hande of God the father almyghtye and from thens shall come to iudge the quyck the dead Loo thys is the heresye that I holde and for it must suffer the deathe Iohan Bale Of Antichrist reade we in the scriptures that he hysoyled Apostles shuld do false myracles Math. 24. 2. Thes. 2. Apoca. 13. We fynde also in the same selfe places that he shuld exalte hymselfe aboue all that is called God or that is worshypped as God Who euer hearde of so great a wondre â–ª that a drye cake myght
bawdes For without a masse they can not wele worke their feates The lawers lyke wyse whych seke in Westmynstre hawle to gett most moneye be falfehede can neyther be wele without it It vpholdeth vayne glorye pryde ambycyon auaryce glottonye slouth ydelnesse hypocresye heresye tyrannye and all other deuylyshnesse besydes It maynteyneth the spirytuall souldyers of Antichrist in all superfluouse lyuynge and wanton lecherouse lustes with the chast occupyenges of Sodome and â—omor What other ghostlye frutes it hath I shall more largelye shewe in my boke called The myracles of the Masse agaynst Peryne PerchauÌ„ce some deuouâ—e Masse hearers wyll laye for the holynesse therof that it contayneth both pystle and Gospell Trulye that Epystle and that Gospell maye wele haue a name of lyfe as S. Iohan sayth of the churche of Sardis Apoca. 3. Yet is it in that offyce of massynge noÌ„ other than the dead or mortyfyenge letter 2. Cor. 3. For the spreâ—e that shuld quyeken is clerely taken froÌ„ it So that nothynge els therof remayneth to the common people but a dead noyse and an ydle sounde as it is now in the Romysh laÌ„guage Who can saye but it was the scripture that Sathan alleged vnto Christ vpon the pynnacle of the temple Math. 4. Yet remayneth it there styll after hys vngracyouse handelynge therof as a false craftye suggestyon a deuylysh errour or a shyelde of hys wyckednesse wyll do euermore Where are the names of God of hys Angels of hys sayntes more ryfe thaÌ„ amoÌ„ge witches charmers inchauÌ„ters c sorcerers Yet can ye not saye that they are amoÌ„ge theÌ„ to anye maÌ„nys saluacyoÌ„ as they wolde be in ryght handelyngeâ— What it is that serueth an ydoll lete godlye wyse men comecture whych are not all ignoraunt how Angell became a deuyll Anne Askewe I lorde I haue more enemyes now than there be heeres on my heade Yet lorde lete theÌ„ neuer ouer come me with vayne wordes But fyght thu lorde in my stede For on the cast I my care With all the spyght they can ymagyne they fall vpon me whych am thy poore creature Yet swete lorde lete me not seâ— by them whych are agaynst the. For in the is my whole delyght Iohan Bale Oblessyd woman and vndoubted cytyzen of heauen Truthe it is that thu hast had manye aduersaryes yea and a farre greatter nombre of them than thu hast here reckened And the more thu hast had the greatter is now they vyctorye in Christ. The great bodye of the Beast thu hast had to enemye whych coÌ„prehendet the malygnaunt muster of 〈…〉 one syde the erthly worshâ—â—pers of hys blasphemose beastlynesse 〈◊〉 the other syde Daniel 11. Apo. 13. whose noÌ„bre is as the sande of the see in fynyte Apoc. 20. But consydre agayne what fryndeshypp thu hast gotten for it on the other part Thu hast now to frynde for thy faythfull perseueraunce agaynst those ydoll mongers the sempyternall trynyte the father the sonne the holye Ghost IoaÌ„ 14. With the gloryouse multytude of Angels the patriarkes Prophetes Apostles Martyrs with all the electnoÌ„bre from ryghtcouse Abel hytherto Thu hast also here vpon earthe euermore shall haue the fauer of all theÌ„ whych haue not bowed to that fylthye Beast whose names are regestred in the boke of lyfe Apo. 21. And as for thy vngodlye cruell enemyes as dust in the wynde the lorde wyll scattre them from the face of the earthe be they neuer so stowte and manye Psal. 1. Anne Askewe And lorde I hartelye desyre of the that thu wylte of thy most mercyfull goodnesse forgeue theÌ„ that vyolence whych they do haue done vnto me Open also thu their blynde harâ—es that they maye her after do that thynge in thy syght whych is onlye acceptable before the. And to sett fourth thy veryte a ryght without all vayne fanta syes of synnefull men So be it I lorde so be it By me Anne Askewe Iohan Bale Afore here she confessed with Dauid that on God she had cast her care and that in hym was all her hartes delyght Psal. 60. She desyred hym also neuer to fayle her in thys harde coÌ„flict but stroÌ„glye to assist her and in no case to permytt her to be ouer commen of the flatterynge worlde neyther yet to geue place to hys enemyes And I doubt it not but these are most euydent sygnes that she was hys faythfull seruaunt I knowe certaynlye that all the power of helle can not preuayle agaynst so ernest a faythe Math. 16. For he hath so spoken it there whych can not lye Luce 21. 1. Petri 2. In thys lattre part she sheweth the nature of Christes lyuelye membre and of a perfyght christen martyr in ij poyntes first she desyreâ—h God to forgeue her enemyes as Christ desyred hym in the tyme of hys passyon Luce 23. And as holye Steuen also ded for the tyme of hys deathe Acto 7. Secondlye she desyreth their hartes to be opened that they maye trulye beleue and be saued Acto 16. Thys supernaturall affect of charyte had she only of the sprete of Christ whych wylleth not the deathe of a frowarde synner but rather that he be froÌ„ hys wyckednesse turned so lyue Ezech. 33. Thus is she a Saynt canonysed in Christes bloude though she neuer haue other canonysacyon of pope prest nor Byshopp The destroyer shall be destroyed without handes Daniel 8. The Balade whych Anne Askewe made and sange whan she was in Newgate LYke as the armed knyght Appoynted to the fielde With thys world wyll I fyght And fayth shall be my shielde Faythe is that weapon strongâ— Whych wyll not fayle at nede My foes therfor amonge Therwith wyll I procede As it is had in strengthe And force of Christes waye It wyll preuayle at lengthe Though all the deuyls saye naye Faythe in the fathers olde Obtayned ryghtwysnesse Whych make me verye bolde To feare no worldes dystresse I now reioyce in hart And hope byd me do so For Christ wyll take my part And ease me of my wo. Thu sayst lorde who so knocke To them wylt thu attende Vndo therfor the locke And thy stronge power sende More enmyes now I haue Than heeres vpon my heed Lete them not me depraue But fyght thu in my steed On the my care I cast For all their cruell spyght I sett not by their hast For thâ— art my delyght I am not she that lyst My anker to lete fall For euerye dryslynge myst My shyppe substancyall Not oft vse I towryght In prose nor yet in ryme Yet wyll I shewe one syght That I sawe in my tyme. I sawe a ryall trone Where Iustyce shuld haue sytâ— But in her stede was one Of modye cruell wytt Absorpt was rygtwysnesse As of the ragynge floude Sathan in hys excesse Sucâ—e vp the gyltelesse bloude Then thought I Iesus lorde Whan thu shalt iudge vs
Englande and Duchelande also O that woman that woman O those men those men If the popes generacyon and wycked remnaunt make manye more soch martyrs they are lyke to marre all their whole market in Englande It were best for them now a dayes to lete men be at lyberte for their holye fathers gaâ—dy she ceremonyes as they are for beare baytynges cocke fyghtynges tennys playe tables tombelynge daunsynge or huÌ„tynge who lyst who maye For as lyttle haue those tradycyoÌ„s of hys of the worde of God in their prowdest outshewe as they haue Here wyll some tender stomakes be greued and report that in our headye hastynesse we refuse to suffre with our weake bretherne accordynge to the doctryne of Paule But I saye vnto them what so euer they be whych are so scrupulouse wanderers that they most execrablye erre in so bestowynge the scriptures For abhomynable is that tolleraunce of our brethernes weakenesse where God is by ydolatrouse superstycyons dysobeyed dyshonoured and blasphemed A playne practyse were thys of Sathan in hypocresye to vpholde all deuylyshnesse On the other syde was there an other sort at the deathe of these blessyd martyrs and they iudged of thys alteracyon of the ayre and thonder clappe as ded the Iewysh Byshoppes with their peruerted multytude Whych waggynge their heades rayled reuyled iangled iested scorned cursed mocked and mowed at Christes precyouse sufferynges on the crosse Math. 27. and Luce 23. These were the ydle wytted prestes at London and their beastlye ygnoraunt broodes with olde superstycyouse bawdes and brethels the popes blynde cattell These cryed there lyke madde modye bedlemes as they hearde the thonder They are dampned they are dampned their wyse preachers outasynge the same at Paules crosse In dede full nobylle are they ouerscane in the Byble that iudge the thonders to sygnyfye daÌ„pnacyon Thonder sayth the scripture is the voyce of God Eccle. 43. Thonder is the helpynge power of the lorde Iob 26. and no dampnacyon Christ called Iohan and Iames the sonnes of thonder Marci 3. Whych betokened that they shuld be ernest preachers and no chyldren of dampnacyon The lorde by thonder sheweth hys inscrutable workynge Iob 38. Moses receyued the lawe Helyas the sprete of prophecye the Apostles the holye Ghost all in thonder What wycked fole wyll saye they receyued so dampnacyon As the lambe had opened the first seale of the boke the voyce that went forth was as it had bene thonder Apoca. 6. whych is no dampnacyon but a sharpe callynge of people to Godwarde The thonderynges that apered whan the Angell fylled hys censer Apoca. 8. were no dampnacyons but Gods ernest wordes rebukynge the worlde for synne The best interpretours do call those â–ª thoÌ„derynges whych came from the trone of God Apocal. 4. soche verytees of the scripture as terryfyeth synners and no dampnacyons Neyther were the vij thonderynges whych gaue their voyces Apoc. 10. anye other than mysteryes at their tymes to be opened Eucherius Lugdunensis other moralysers call thonders in the scripture the voyces of the Gospell and their lyghtenynges the clere openynges of the same If thoÌ„der be a threttenynge or a fearfull iudgement of God as in Psal. 103. it is to them that abyde here and not to them that depart froÌ„ hens A token is it also that the horryble tyrauntes shall be as the meledust that the wynde taketh awaye sodenlye Esaie 29. If plage do folowe of thonder as it ded in Egypt whan Moses stretched forth hys rodde Exodi 9. It shall lyght vpon them whych hath shewed the tyraÌ„nouse vyolence on the people of God as it ded vpon pharao and hys cruell mynysters At the myghtye voyce whych was both sensyblye hearde and vnderstanded of the Apostles from heauen that the father was wolde be gloryfyed by Christ the people sayd notthynge bâ—t It thondereth Ioan. 12. For nothynge els they vnderstode therof What Anne Askewe and her companyons both hearde and sâ— in thys thonder to their sowles consolacyon in their paynefull sufferynges no mortall vnderstandynge can dyscerne Onlye was it Steuen and parauenture a fewe dyscyples that se the heauens open whan he suffered and not the cruell multytude whych ranne vpon hym with stones Acto 7. Lete beastlye blynde babbyllers and bawdes with their charmynge chaplaynes than prate at large out of their malycyouse sprete and ydle braynes We haue in habundaunce the veryte of Gods worde and promes to proue them both saued and gloryfyed in Christ. For God euer preserueth them whych trust in hym Psal. 16. All that call vpon hys holye name are saued Iohel 2. What reasonable man wyll thynke that they can be lost whych haue their lorde God more dere than their owne lyues No man shall be hable sayth Christ to plucke myshepe out of my handes but I wyll geue theÌ„ eternall yfe Ioan. 10. Beleue sayth Paule to the iayler at Philippos on the lorde Iesus Christ and thu shall be saued and thy whole howsholde Acto 16. They that seme in the syght of the vnwyse to go into destruccyon do rest in the peace of God and are replenyshed with immortalyte Sapien. 3. With other innumerable scriptures to the prayse of God whose name be gloryfyed worlde without ende Amen FINIS God saue the kynge Thus endeth the lattre conflict of Anne Askewe latelye done to deathe by the Romysh popes malycyouse remnaunt now canonysed in the precyouse bloude of the lorde Iesus Christ Imprented at Marpurg in the lande of Hessen 16 â–ª die Ianuarij anno 1. 5. 4. 7. A table compendyouse of thys lattre boke ANne Askewe a martyr 6. 54. 55 Anne Askewes sufferynges 45. 49. 62. 67 Antichristes badges 20. 53. 56. Antichrist where he dwelleth 26 Augustyne a bloud sheder 4 BOnuer Bysh. of London 52 Breade is no God 21. 34. 56. Brittayne churche 3. 8 CEremonyes at lyberte 67 Christ what meate he is 30 Christ wherfor condempned 31 Chronycle writers â— Consecracyon of prestes 55 Constancye of Anne Askewe 27. 35. 46 DEathe not feared 27. 35 Dyfference of martyrs 4. 5 Doctryne of the supper 12 Edere what it is 12. 33 Enemyes iij. ghostlye 38 Englysh churche 4. 8 Eucherius Lugdunensis 69 FAythe plentuouse 28 50. 55 Frances aboue Christ 23 Frutes of faythe 54. 55 Fryndes and enemyes 45. 61 GOdlynes of Anne Askewe 27 Gouernours worldlye â—8 Graye fryres Christ 23 HEresye dyffyned 37 Hewaldes whyte blacke 6 Howse of merchaundyse 25 IDolatrye of Breade 21. 24. 59 Idolaters of ij sortes 34 Incoâ—staunt Chrystyanes 28. 39 Iohan wycleâ—es tyme 6 Iohan lassels brent 49. 67 Iuthwara a martyr 6 Kilianus hys fellawes 7 Ryme a gentylman 15 LAdyes sought to deathe 40. 6â— Ladye chauncellour 48 Lanfrancus and walden 37 MArryage of Anne Askewe 14 Martyrs of Englande 3. 4 Masse is ydolatrye 26. 44. 59 Masse with hys receytes 59 Masse with hys frutes 60 Masses who do them 26 Masse
lorde shall prayse hym their sowles shall neuer perysh Psal. 21. They that eate me sayth the veryte of God shall hungre more and more and they that drincke me shall thirst more desyerouslye for me Eccles. 24. Onlesse ye eate the fleshe of the sonne of man sayth Christ and drynke hys bloude ye can haue no lyfe in yow IoaÌ„ 6. These scriptures expounde the doctours spirytuallye yea the papistes all Where as the other iij. Euangelistes Mathew Marke and Luke sheweth nothynge els of the lordes supper but the playne historie S. Iohan writynge last of theÌ„ all manyfesteth there the whole coÌ„plteâ— doctryne full vnderstaÌ„dynge therof after Christes owne 〈…〉 and meanynge 〈◊〉 is it there that the true receyuers therof be taught of God and lerned of the heauenlye father and not of synnefull mennes customes The worke of God or that pleaseth God is not there the puttynge of breade into the mouthe and bellye but to beleue or exactlye to consydre that Christ dyed for vs to clense vs from synne to ioyne vs into one mystycall bodye and to geue vs the lyfe euerlastynge And that there is non other but he that can procure vs that lyfe For that whych entereth the mouâ—he feadeth onlye â—he bodye But that entereth faythe feadeâ—h the sowle I am the lyuynge breade sayth he whych came downe from heauen He onlye that beleueth in me hath the lyfe euerlastynge Ioan. 6. the sprete is it that quyckeneth the fleshelye vnder standynge or onlye mouthe eatynge profyteth nothynge at all Here wyll an obstynaâ—e papyst parauenture saye that we attrybute nothynge to the corporall communyon Yeas we reuerentlye graunt that ryghtlye mynystred after Christes instytucyon it both confirmeth our faythe in the necessarye consyderacyons of hys deathe and also sturreth vp that brotherlye ChristeÌ„ loue whych we ought to haue towardes our neyber besydes that thys faythfull woman hath spoken here of it a force And these are the onlye frutes whych he requireth of vs in that supper or sacramentall metynge Anne Askewe Therfor it is mete that in prayers we call vnto God to grafte in our foreheades the true meanynge of the holye Ghost concernynge thys communyoÌ„ For S. Paule doth saye that the letter slayeth The sprete is it onlye that geueth lyfe 2. Cor. 3. Marke weÌ„le the vj. chaptre of Iohan where all is applyed vnto faythe â—ore also the fort chaptre of S. Paules first epistle to the Corynthes in the ende therof ye shall fynde playnelye that the thynges whych are seane are temporall but they that are not seane are euerlastynge Yea loke in the third chaptre to the Hebrues ye shall fynde that Christ as a sonne and no seruaunt â–ª ruleth ouer hys howse whose howse are we and not the dead teÌ„ple if we holde fast the confydence and reioysynge of that hope to the ende Wherfor as sayth the holye Ghost To daye if yow shall heare hys voyce harden not your hartes c Psalm 94. Iohan Bale By the fore heades vnderstaÌ„de she the hartes or myndes of men for so are they take of S. IohaÌ„ Apoc. 7. aud 22. I can not thynke but herm she had respect vnto the plate of fyne golde whych the lorde commaunded to be sett vpon AaroÌ„s foreheade for the acceptacyon of the people of Israel Exodi 2. For here wolde she all mennys hartes to be endued and lyghtened with the most purâ— sprete of Christ for the vnderstandynge of that most holye and necessarye coÌ„munyon the corrupted dreames and fâ—ntasyes of synnefull men sett a part She knewe by the syngular gyft of the holye Ghost that they are lyenge masters procurers of ydolatrye and most spyghfull enemyes to the sowle of man that applyeth that offyce to the corruptyble lyppâ—â— whych belongeth to an vncorrupted faythe so settynge the creature that is corruptyble breade in place of the creator Christ both God and man Roma 1. lamentynge it with the ryghtouse at the verye hart roâ—e And in thys she shewed her selfe to be a naturall membre of Christes mystycall bodye 1. Cor. 12. relygyouslye carefull for her Christen bretherne systerne least they shuld take harme of the popes masmongers Anne Askewe The summe of my examynacyoÌ„ afore the kynges counsell at Grenewyche Your request as coÌ„cernynge my presoÌ„ fellowes I am not hable to satysfye bycause I hearde not their examynacyoÌ„s But the effect of myne was thys I before the counsell was asked of mastre kyme I answered that my lorde chaÌ„cellour knewe all redye my mynde in that matter They with that answere were not coÌ„tented but sayd it was the kynges pleasure that I shuld open the matter to them I answered theÌ„ playnelye that I wolde not so do But if it were the kynges pleasure to heare me I wolde shewe hym the truthe Then they sayd it was not mete for the kynge with me to be troubled I answered that Salomon was reckened the wysest kynge that euer lyued yet myslyked not he to heare .ij. poore coÌ„mon womeÌ„ moch more hys grace a symple woman and hys faythfull subiect So in coÌ„clusyon I made theÌ„ non other answere in that matter Iohan Bale CoÌ„cernynge mastre Ryme thys shuld seme to be the matter Her father Sir Wyllyam Askewe knyght and hys father olde mastre Ryme were sumtyme of famylyaryte and neybers within the countye of Lyncolne shyre Wherupon the seyd Sir Wyllyam couenaunted wyth hym for lucre to haue hys eldest â—oughter marryed with hys sonne and 〈◊〉 as an vngodlye maner it is in Englande moch vsed amonge neble men And as it was her chaunce to dye afore the tyme of marryage to saue the money he constrayned thys to supplye her rowme So that in the ende she was coÌ„pelled agaynst her wyll or fre consent to marrye with hym Notwithstandynge the marryage ones past she demeaned her selfe lyke a Christen wyfe aud had by hym as I am infourmed ij chyldreÌ„ In processe of tyme by oft readynge of the sacred Bible she fell clerelye from all olde superstycyons of papystrye to a perfyght beleue in Ihesus Christ Wherby she so offeÌ„ded the prestes as is to be seane after that he at their suggestion vyolentlye droue her oute of hys howse WherupoÌ„ she thought her selfe free froÌ„ that vncomelye 〈…〉 marrâ—age by thys doctryne of S. Paule 1 Cor. 7. If a faytfull womaÌ„ haue an vnbeleuynge husbaÌ„de whych wyll not tarrye with her she maye leaue hym For a brother or syster is not in subieccyoÌ„ to soch â–ª specyallye where as the marryage afore is vnlawfull VpoÌ„ thys occasyoÌ„ I heare saye she sâ—ught of the law a dyuorcemeÌ„â— froÌ„ hym namelye and aboue all bycause he so cruellye droue her out of hys howse in despyght of Christes veryte She coulde not thynke hym worthye of her marryage whych so spyghtfullye hated God the chefe autor of marryage Of thys matter was she first examyned I thynke at hys